Citibank vs. UFB Direct
Comparing Citibank and UFB Direct for high-yield savings: Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings pays 3.20% APY while UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle pays 3.46% APY.
Note: UFB Direct requires a checking account.
See how they compare on rate stability, mobile app ratings, and more below.
The Bottom Line
Who pays more interest on $10,000? UFB Direct pays $26 more than Citibank annually ($346 vs $320).
Choose Citibank if you want a no-strings-attached account, or you want Zelle for quick transfers. Choose UFB Direct if getting the best rate matters most, or BBB rating matters to you.
Important Considerations
UFB Direct requires a checking account to unlock its top savings rate, while Citibank offers its savings account standalone.
Citibank's Accelerate Savings is only available in select states where Citi has no branch presence. Check eligibility before applying.
| Metric | CitibankCiti Accelerate Savings Feb 21, 2026 | UFB DirectUFB Checking and Savings Bundle Feb 21, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.20% | 3.26% - 3.46% |
Est. Earnings | $5,000+$160 $10,000+$320 $25,000+$800 | $5,000+$163 $10,000+$346 $25,000+$865 |
Min Deposit | $0 | $5000 |
Snapshot view. Rates subject to change. | ||
Terms | Eligibility restricted to select states. | The regular savings or money market APY may be boosted up to 3.46% by direct deposits, minimum balance of $10,000 and making 10 approved debit card transactions per statement cycle. The checking account earns 2% APY. See bank for full details. |
| Features | FDIC InsuredNo MinimumsGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppZelle® SupportedDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often | FDIC InsuredHigh MinimumGreat iOS AppGreat Android AppDirect Deposit ReqChecking BundleDaily CompoundingRate Changes Often |
Market Reality Check
Both of these banks offer rates below the current top tier. The best rates we track are currently above 4.15% APY.
Comparison Analysis
Comparing Citibank vs. UFB Direct
Executive Summary
Citibank offers the Citi Accelerate Savings account with a competitive APY of 3.20%, available in select states, and requires no direct deposit. Alternatively, the Citi® Savings Account yields a significantly lower APY of 0.03%. In comparison, UFB Direct features the UFB Portfolio Savings account with an APY of 3.26%, which is only slightly higher than Citibank's offering. However, UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle provides a more attractive APY of 3.46% when certain conditions are met, such as maintaining a minimum balance and making debit card transactions. Both banks are online-only, with UFB Direct's bundle requiring a checking account and a minimum deposit.
The analysis is based on current Banksparency database records
* This content is provided for informational purposes only; always verify details with the provider.
Why Citibank?
- ✓Physical branch access (U.S. branches are concentrated in six metropolitan areas, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami.)
- ✓Higher rated Android app (4.8 vs 4.3)
- ✓Fast transfers via Zelle® (up to $2,500 a day)
Why UFB Direct?
- ✓Offers 2.00% APY on Checking Account in addition to the savings APY
- ✓Access to over 90,000 fee-free ATMs
- ✓Higher potential APY (3.26%-3.46% vs 3.20%) (requires checking bundle & direct deposit)
- ✓Offers 2 different high-yield savings options
- ✓Available Nationwide
— Key Feature Differences —
Better Returns at $10,000
UFB DirectUFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle earns more on smaller deposits (approx. $346 vs $320/yr).
Better Returns at $25,000
UFB DirectUFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle pulls ahead with larger amounts (approx. $865 vs $800/yr).
Best for All-in-One Banking
UFB DirectUFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle pays a superior APY for customers who also open a checking account.
Shared Benefits
Over a 1-year period, UFB Direct's UFB Checking and Savings Bundle pays $26 more interest on a $10,000 balance than Citibank's Citi Accelerate Savings.
*This calculation assumes current rates remain consistent for 1 year and does not include temporary bonuses.
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Citibank vs. UFB Direct Savings Calculator
You earn $26 more with UFB Direct than Citibank on a $10,000 initial deposit for 1 year*.
*This calculation assumes that APYs remain unchanged for 1 year, and takes into account known promo rate periods, but does not factor in bonuses. You can see how often these banks have changed their rates in the Compare Savings Rates Over Time section below.
Citibank
Citi Accelerate Savings
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$320.00(3.1%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,320.00
UFB Direct
UFB Checking and Savings Bundle
Savings Breakdown
- Interest Earned+$346.00(3.3%)
- Total Contributions$0
- Initial Deposit$10,000
Projected Balance
$10,346.00
The Banksparency Savings Calculator provides estimated savings growth based on user input and our latest data.
Still banking with Chase, Bank of America, or Wells Fargo?
On a $10,000 balance, you're missing out on at least $319 per year in interest.
Both Citibank and UFB Direct dramatically outperform the typical 0.01% APY at traditional big banks.
| Feature | Citibank | UFB Direct |
|---|---|---|
| APY | 3.20% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.10%90d Change | 3.46% Range: 3.26% - 3.46% Verified: 2/21/2026 ↘︎ 0.25%90d Change |
| Product Name | Citi Accelerate Savings | UFB Checking and Savings Bundle |
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $5000 |
| Min. Balance for APY | $0.01 | $10,000 |
| Monthly Fee | $4.50. Waived for average monthly balances > $500 | $0 |
| Compound Frequency | Daily | Daily |
| Branch Access | None | None |
| Account Type | Online Only | Online Only |
| Physical Branches | U.S. branches are concentrated in six metropolitan areas, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Miami. | None |
| Direct Deposit Req. | None | Required |
| Checking Bundle | No | Yes |
| Mobile Apps | ||
| FDIC Insured | YesVerify FDIC | YesVerify FDIC |
| Zelle® Support | Available Limit: $2,500/dayTiered limits based on account status (Citigold higher). | Not Supported |
| BBB Rating | D- | A+ |
| Important Notes | Eligibility restricted to select states. | The regular savings or money market APY may be boosted up to 3.46% by direct deposits, minimum balance of $10,000 and making 10 approved debit card transactions per statement cycle. The checking account earns 2% APY. See bank for full details. |
| Next Steps | Visit SiteVerify at Citibank Non-sponsored link to official site | Visit SiteGo to UFB Direct * Secure link to our partner |
📈 Compare Savings Rates Over Time
Historical Performance
| Metric | Citibank | UFB Direct | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi® Savings Account | Citi Accelerate Savings | UFB Checking and Savings Bundle | UFB Portfolio Savings | |
Current APY | 0.03% | 3.20% | 3.46% | 3.26% |
Trend | Stable | Stable | Stable | Stable |
Velocity (bps/mo) | -0.0 | -4.7 | -7.6 | -7.6 |
Days Since Change | 365 | 25 | 46 | 46 |
12-Month High | 0.03% | 3.80% | 4.21% | 4.01% |
12-Month Low | 0.03% | 3.20% | 3.46% | 3.26% |
Adjustments / Mo | 0.00 | 0.58 | 0.41 | 0.41 |
Volatility Score | 0.000 | 0.049 | 0.077 | 0.081 |
How to read these metrics(Click to expand)
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Compare Citibank's APY of 3.20% with other banks
Compare UFB Direct's APY of 3.46% with other banks
| Bank Pair | Competitor APY | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| UFB Direct vs Ally Bank | 3.20% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs American Express | 3.30% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Axos Bank | 4.21% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Bank of America | 0.01% | $100 |
| UFB Direct vs Barclays | 3.85% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Capital One | 3.30% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Chase Bank | 0.01% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Chime | 3.00% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs CIT Bank | 3.75% | $100 |
| UFB Direct vs Discover Bank | 3.30% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs EverBank | 3.90% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Marcus by Goldman Sachs | 3.65% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Newtek Bank | 4.20% | $0.01 |
| UFB Direct vs Openbank | 4.09% | $500 |
| UFB Direct vs Pibank | 4.60% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs SoFi Bank | 4.00% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Synchrony Bank | 3.50% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Varo Bank | 5.00% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Wealthfront | 3.95% | $0 |
| UFB Direct vs Wells Fargo | 0.05% | $25 |